What's your name and role at MAMA?

I’m Kelly and I’m re-introducing myself as I am now leading MAMA into her second decade of success.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I was a co-founding director with Jan Ireland from 2011 for seven years before the birth of my first child. Children change your world (as many of you would know!) so in 2017 I relinquished my Directorship to Jan whilst continuing to support her, and continued working at MAMA in a caseload midwife role. As family life became easier, I returned 2 years ago to a manager/midwife support role, building sustainability into our midwifery practice to prevent burnout and to build midwife mentorship models to support early career midwives.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

My vision for MAMA as we continue to grow is that our care remains the same; that we provide loving individualised care that empowers families in their experience of pregnancy, birth and beyond. I know we have the right team to provide gold standard, empowering care. I believe the key to success for the longevity of MAMA and private midwifery practice has two important parts; the first lies in growing our mentorship program which enables passionate, early-career midwives to follow their professional dreams within an experienced, supportive team. The second, is ensuring the sustainability of the private midwifery practice model for the brilliant midwives we have and want to keep working happily for their entire careers. We do this by employing our midwives and putting supports in place such as rostered days off covered by the team and paid education days. I have seen that these small changes to the traditional sole private practitioner model has already reduced the burnout that is so common in the sole private practitioner (traditional) model. With three mentees currently working towards primary caseload care and two graduate mentorship positions available in 2025, the future of MAMA is looking bright.

What are your favourite things about your role?

Just as MAMA pioneered the first holistic private midwifery centre in Victoria, I believe our mentee program and sustainable midwifery model is the only one of its kind in Australia. I am looking towards the future of MAMA and private midwifery practice with gratitude. I am honoured to take the reins of my ‘first baby’ again and I am so grateful for the wonderful team at MAMA as we seek to support more positive transitions to parenthood for more families across Victoria.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

Running some trails!

What’s your name and role at MAMA?
Ally, MAMA midwife at Gippsland and Bayside clinics

What inspired you to work at MAMA?
After my own experience of having a private midwife and homebirth I really struggled returning to work in the hospital system, especially in fragmented care. I know I was always destined to work in a continuity of care model and the birthing options that MAMA provide since I was a student midwife doing placement in a Birth Centre. Learning from these intuitive midwives planted the seed for the type of midwife I aspired to become. As the MAMA Gippsland clinic was establishing I was keen to get onboard to work with excellent midwives, we have a great team here at MAMA. I love looking after women from my own community, it’s a real village midwife vibe.

 What are you passionate about at MAMA?
I enjoy the relationships built with women and families through the continuity of care model and the ability to share pregnancy, birth and postnatal knowledge through this journey. It’s really important to me that women and families know they have options and choices at every turn; informed decision making is important. I want women to achieve the birth they desire, whatever that may be or look like.

What are your favourite things about your role?
I love seeing a woman and partner as they learn and witness how incredible women’s bodies are in growing and birthing their babies then nourishing them beyond the womb.

It’s so wonderful working with such a great team of like-minded midwives we all have the same philosophy but everyone brings their own uniqueness and expertise which women benefit so much from.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?
I could lie and tell you about my hobbies pre-Mum life, but now I’m living life with a toddler in tow there’s not as much time for me!

I live on a little pocket of land with a few sheep, cows, fruit trees and hopefully some chickens soon! All these things keep me busy as well as doing house and garden improvements and dreaming about future renovations.

What’s your name and role at MAMA?
Hi my name is Amy. I am proudly a registered nurse, endorsed midwife, lactation consultant and counsellor.

What inspired you to work as a midwife?
I have been a midwife for over 20yrs and love it. The birth of my first son inspired me to become the midwife I am. To this day I remember my midwife and the impact she has had on my life- I want to be that support for other families. 

What are you passionate about as a midwife?
I am passionate about supporting women to feel empowered, supported and in control during the birth of their babies. How you feel having your baby is important and I will support you to feel safe.

What makes MAMA special to you?
I have worked in the traditional private practice model for a long time and the support offered by everyone at MAMA is unique and special. MAMA is a group of amazing professionals working together for the families in our community. 

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?
When I am not working you will find me with my family, dancing with my friends or discovering remote/unique parts of Australia.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Hi, I’m Cally, one of the MAMA Midwives! My other important roles/titles include Wife, Mother and Catholic.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

Initially, in high school, my goals and desires were to work with babies, throughout my studies and career, it has become so much more than that. It is a blessing to be able to work with Mothers, as they bring life into the world. The desire to wholistically care for women has brought me to my current role.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

My leading passion as a midwife is helping women achieve the birth they desire, empowering them with support and knowledge. Since my first day as a student, this has always been my goal and passion. I spent several years in the hospital system, growing my own knowledge and skills. The next step to move out of the system was a given, as to be able to wholistically care for women was not achievable there. Moving into private practice and working at MAMA has allowed me to do this.

What are your favourite things about your role?

What makes working for MAMA especially special is the team environment. We all hold similar ethics, and the entire team is supportive and giving, and are all round incredible people. I am grateful for each and every one of them, (maybe, especially the admin team!).

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I’m not at work, you will find me at some sort of sports! Between my 3 kids and my own sports, we have sports 7 days a week! I love playing netball and going to the gym myself and enjoy coffee dates and am growing our home garden/veggie patch to grow our own food to eat.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

I'm Charlotte, a MAMA midwife

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

When I was 15, I watched my own mum give birth to my baby brother at home in our loungeroom. It was one of the most profound experiences of my life, and it opened my eyes to the world of birth and midwifery. I remember looking at the midwife and thinking ‘I want her job when I grow up!’, and so ensued my own journey to becoming a midwife.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I believe that women and birthing people can meet their most fierce and empowered selves through birth, and that the love, care and safety of a known midwife can be an integral person in achieving this. The trajectory of who I am as a woman, daughter and midwife was forever changed by my introduction to birth, and my hope is that everyone on their birthing journey can have this powerful initiation into parenthood.

What are your favourite things about your role?

I got my first midwifery job and entered the hospital system as an excited but naïve new graduate. I quickly discovered that the wonderful experience I witnessed as a teenager was the exception and not the rule. I found the work ethically challenging and misaligned, and I considered leaving the profession. It’s funny looking back at this time before MAMA, because today I find my current work incredibly fulfilling and completely in line with my expectations around family focussed holistic care, and I am honoured to be working in a space that has not once made me doubt my choice of profession.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Hi I’m Ella, one of the fabulous team of midwives working at MAMA

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I’m not exactly sure why I chose to become a midwife but after trying out other careers (including being an engineer and yoga teacher) it was a deep soul yes that this was the work I wanted to being doing. It was also clear to me very quickly that the hospital system was not a place I could imagine myself thriving or offering the kind of care I wanted to give. I was so blessed to be able to step straight into private practice at Mama, right after becoming a mother myself.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I’m passionate about mothers feeling supported the huge shift and rite of passage that is the perinatal period. Childbearing and child raising asks everything of you – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. No one should have to navigate this time without love and care and guidance.

What are your favourite things about your role?

MAMA is unique because we have the best team, which allows us to give so much to our clients without depleting ourselves too drastically or taking us away from our own families for too long. The connection we have with our clients and their families is very special too.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I’m not at work you might find me swimming, running, gyming or hanging out in nature with my toddler and Golden Retriever.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Ellie (she/her), Team Lead Kensington and Caseload Midwife

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I grew up on my mother's stories of her own birth journeys, both at home and in hospital, and learnt from an early age the special role midwives hold in guiding women and their families to be informed and supported as they journey to meet their babies. My family has also experienced pregnancy loss and I've witnessed what occurs in the absence of holistic, family-centred care. These experiences led me to my midwifery journey and my passion for continuity of midwifery care.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I am incredibly passionate about supporting women and their families to make informed and autonomous decisions, and providing individualised, family centred care. I love witnessing families journey from our first appointment together, through their births and postpartum and seeing the incredible transformation that occurs. Not just for the woman/birthing person and their baby, but for those important to them.

What are your favourite things about your role?

MAMA holistic philosophy is what makes us a family. When women fully engage with the entire MAMA team and you witness the benefits that the love and support from midwives, Allied Health and Lactation Consultants has in contributing to positive outcomes... It's magic!!

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I’m not midwifing, I’m spending time with my partner and our menagerie of animals; watching Netflix; having a coffee with friends, or tending to my jungle of indoor plants.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Lindsey, I work as an endorsed midwife and in a casual position as a lactation consultant

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I am passionate to work with mothers, babies and families to feel truly connected and embodied through providing loving support.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I am passionate to work with mothers, babies and families to feel truly connected and embodied through providing loving support.

What are your favourite things about your role?

MAMA is unique in that it is a hub not only for midwifery but many other modalities that support the well-being of mother's and babies.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

I enjoy sitting in stillness, dancing, listening to music, reading, writing, studying, cooking and swimming.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Marita Howard, works as PPM at MAMA and have been there for almost 10 years

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

It was Jan Ireland who inspired initally to work at MAMA, she was my midwife over 23 years ago for my first birth.  I always had great respect for my 2 midwives for Joels birth and the positive impact they both had during my first birthing experience. I was working at MMC at time and would run in to her often with her own private clients coming in to give birth. Every time I saw her, she would tell me excitedly about her plans to open her own midwifery clinic. It was the right time to move out of the system and embark into private practice when my youngest daughter started school.  This was also the time I had started to feel completely disheartened by the hospital system; with the closure of the birth centre model, I had grown to love. It was my chance to make a difference and support women in the way I knew I could. I have worked in many areas over my long midwifery career but had been happiest when I had worked in the UK on a Community MW role and was able to experience continuity of care and attends my first home births.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I am passionate about being with women and families, supporting them through their journeys to motherhood.  After having 3 very different birth experiences myself, I can appreciate the individual journeys other women embark and support them through their own.

What are your favourite things about your role?

I can meet so many different women and families, get to know them, have a good laugh and a cry. I love nothing more than to have a good chat and discover what is important for families which enables me to individualise their care.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I am not at work, you will find me at home with my hubby and 3 almost grown children. I love to listen to crime thrillers, podcasts and watch whatever takes my fancy on a choice of streaming devices. On a good day I love to walk around our local area or head to Cowes for a weekend away. I enjoy pottering in my new kitchen or heading out for a nice meal. I have 12 siblings, so not uncommon for a special family birthday or event to take me out for a day here and there. I have the privilege to be there for a good handful of family babies over the years too.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Rachel, a Midwife and Educator at MAMA.

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I was born and raised in the beautiful Lake District in England, with 3 years also spent living in Italy. I obtained my BA (Hons) Midwifery degree from the University of York, England, in 2010-2013. It was during this training that I opted to take a month-long elective placement in Melbourne with MAMA, and it was here that planted the seed for my passion for caseloading, homebirth and empowering women and their families. Between 2013-2016, I worked for a caseloading midwifery practice in Cheshire, England, providing full continuity of care and homebirths. During this time I also trained as a hypnobirthing teacher.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I believe in providing individualised, holistic care, supporting women to make informed choices, and staying true to midwifery. I am particularly passionate about postnatal care and breastfeeding support, and love supporting families through the magic and challenges of the first 6 weeks postpartum. I also have a strong interest in nutrition and holistic health, and enjoy working collaboratively with allied health practitioners to provide the best care.

What are your favourite things about your role?

I moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016, to settle in the country I love and work at the place which has my heart - MAMA. I jumped straight into undertaking postgraduate studies to become an endorsed midwife, and also became a shared care affiliate with multiple public hospitals. My first 6 years at MAMA were spent as a caseloading midwife, providing the full spectrum of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. I also taught group parent education classes during this time. In 2022 I decided to take a break from on-call life after spending the previous 9 years on call 24/7! Since then, I have continued to provide antenatal and postnatal care at MAMA, and have taken on a larger educator role. I teach all of the student midwife workshops at MAMA, and teach private 1:1 parent education classes in both labour/birth and breastfeeding/newborn care. I also teach group parent education classes in infant and child first aid.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

I live Bayside Melbourne with my 2 beautiful cats. I can often be found walking the coastal trails, and in warmer weather, going for a swim. I love being out in nature - I grew up in the lakes, mountains and forests, and that is what my heart craves! Getting out of the city for day trips is good for my soul - the Mornington Peninsula is a favourite spot! I also love reading, poetry, theatre, drawing, piano playing, catching up with friends, and I am always trying to learn new things!

What's your name and role at MAMA?

Hi, my name is Sari and I am proud to say I am a MAMA midwife!

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I have been fascinated by pregnancy and babies since I was very young, and the idea of midwifery always appealed to me, but for a long time I believed a midwife was a wise old woman who served mothers in her village (I mean, that’s actually not too far off!) I always figured that’s what I’d do late in my life, until one day I caught up with a friend from high school who told me she was going to university to study midwifery. It blew my mind that you could just go to uni and learn how to be a midwife! I followed her lead I have never looked back.

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

I love getting to know pregnant people and their families, and what’s important to them, so that I am better able to support them through the transition into parenthood or during the growth of their existing family. My favourite thing about being a midwife is seeing non-birthing parents cry when their child is born! I really recognise what a privilege it is to be invited into someone's birth space and I don’t take this for granted.

What are your favourite things about your role?

I was fortunate enough to be cared for by MAMA midwives Kelly and Siobhan during my first pregnancy and birth. Some of the most special memories of my life are waddling into Kensington each week with my expanding belly for my antenatal appointments, acupuncture, chiropractic, physiotherapy and yoga. It’s such a happy place, and now I get to watch people from the other side of that experience. It’s pretty special.

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

I live in Williamstown, where I love walking along the beach with my wonderful husband, our delicious little boy and our Labradoodle. Working mum life is pretty busy, and I’m learning how to get my own needs met so I am able to take better care of my family and clients. For me that means making time for yoga, reading (paperback) books, crocheting and leaving half drank cups of tea around the house.

What's your name and role at MAMA?

My name is Veronica. I am a registered nurse and midwife and I am the team leader for the Hampton and Warragul clinics. 

What inspired you to work at MAMA?

I have done so many different jobs before I worked at MAMA but this is just the most lovely place to work.  I have worked in the public hospital system as a midwife and midwifery educator, and have also worked privately providing homebirth services for many years. The part about MAMA that is most special to me is the team here.  These are some of the best midwives around and I love that if I can't make it to a birth for any reason the women that I care about will be looked after beautifully by one of my team members. 

What are you passionate about at MAMA?

Everything that I do at MAMA centres around the women that I care for and wanting them to have the most amazing experience.  My own experience of birth, breastfeeding and early parenthood are some of the most intense emotional experiences of my life and the memories from those experiences never leave.  I hope that whatever support I provide can help make positive memories for other people through this time. 

What are your favourite things about your role?

It's hard to say what is my favourite thing about my role.  I enjoy the banter with my midwifery colleagues and looking after women and their families is very rewarding.  I can't imagine ever wanting to do anything else. 

Where would we find you outside of MAMA?

When I am not at work I live a very busy life looking after 4 kids, renovating houses, studying and just generally being really terrible at self care.